Hague Food Pantry seeking donations

HAGUE | The Hague Food Pantry is in the beginning stages of a metamorphosis. When Amanda Peterson would pass by the pantry (located within the Hague Community Center) during her Deputy Town Clerk duties, she couldn't help but notice that it needed some help. It sat there quietly, many of its shelves bare. Yes, there were cans of fruits and vegetables, but as far as true nutrition, there wasn't much else. Fresh and frozen food was absent, and many residents opted to travel to Ticonderoga to utilize their food pantry instead. Not a waste of space, but not the best-utilized space, Peterson knew something needed to be done, and she decided she would be the one to get the water boiling. "I'm excited about serving the community," said Peterson, the new Food Pantry Coordinator as of a few weeks ago. "I want to help the community and I want to feed them." There is a need for the food pantry, and of that there is no doubt. According to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), one in seven households (13.5 percent) experienced food insecurity, or lack of access to an affordable, nutritious diet. An estimated 47.4 million Americans lived in these households. Going further, FRAC found 5.1 percent of U.S. households (one in 20) experienced very low food security, a more severe form of food insecurity, where households report regularly skipping meals or reducing intake because they could not afford more food. Even small towns on the shores of beautiful Lake George are being touched by this epidemic, more than people may realize. "Groceries are expensive, gas is expensive," Peterson noted. "I know there are people in need in our community. I know there is food insecurity." Peterson can be referred to as "young blood" within the community. A young professional, she and her husband have been in town since 2020 when COVID hit. It was supposed to be temporary, but she liked it so much they didn't leave. Now her mission is to help the community she has fallen in love with. "I want people to know the food pantry is here and it is available," Peterson said. "I want to make it more of a comfortable experience; I know it can be uncomfortable for people to show up and ask for help. I want to make it easier for them. I want everyone to feel comfortable and not feel ashamed, I really want it to be a good experience for them." Peterson said that a delivery service for those in need is essential, and will be providing that. Peterson's plan to revamp and infuse the food pantry with life- and life-sustaining nutrients- will include a social media boost to bring the pantry into the digital age and make its online presence more established and accessible. "I just want to feed the community and keep everyone happy. I worry about people making the drive to Ti," Peterson admitted. "If they are low on cash I hate to have them thinking they have to spend their last five bucks driving to Ti when they could stay home and have their needs dropped off." Within the next month, Peterson and her husband will unveil their first big donation to the food pantry, a hand built after-hours pantry that will be outside of the community center. "Now, on days the Community Center is closed for weekends or holidays or inclement weather, there will still be access to some non-perishable items," Peterson said, wanting to make sure nobody who needs to eat never goes without. And to really get the updated Hague Food Pantry off the ground, donations are needed to get those shelves back up to par. "We would love to see fresh vegetables, meats, frozen vegetables, coffee, oatmeal, and pancake mix," Peterson shared. "We really lack anything on the fresher side- milk, eggs,etc. We have lots of canned items, and we do not need peanut butter and jelly, we have an abundance of those. I want to get stocked on fresh nutritious food- salads, lettuce, fresh vegetables, frozen meats, ground beef, hot dogs, chicken, we will take anything." Peterson said feminine products and adult diapers are also highly demanded items and would be greatly appreciated. The Hague Community Center is located at 9793 Graphite Mountain Road in Hague. The Food Pantry is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. No proof of income is necessary, they will take people at their word they are in need. Food and monetary donations are always accepted. Please make checks payable to Amanda Peterson/Town of Hague and earmarked for "Food Pantry." Checks may be mailed to Town of Hague, P.O. Box 509, Hague, NY 12836, or simply dropped off at the front desk. Please call 518-543-6161 for questions or more information. "We are one little community trying to take care of each other," said Peterson.

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Hague Food Pantry seeking donations

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